Effects of the Divergence Angle on the Onset of Asymmetric Flow Through a Planar Diffuser

Author(s):  
Majid Nabavi ◽  
Luc Mongeau

In this study, two-dimensional laminar incompressible and turbulent compressible flow through the planar diffuser (gradual expansion) for different divergence half angles of the diffuser (θ), and different Reynolds numbers (Re) was numerically studied. The effects of θ on the critical Reynolds number at which the onset of asymmetric flow is observed, were investigated. In the laminar flow regime, it was observed that for every values of θ, there is a critical Re beyond which the flow is asymmetric. However, in the turbulent flow regime, for θ ≥ 20°, even at low Reynolds number the flow is asymmetric. Only for θ ≤ 10°, symmetric flow was observed below a critical Re.

1978 ◽  
Vol 100 (3) ◽  
pp. 299-307 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. H. Alvi ◽  
K. Sridharan ◽  
N. S. Lakshmana Rao

Loss characteristics of sharp-edged orifices, quadrant-edged orifices for varying edge radii, and nozzles are studied for Reynolds numbers less than 10,000 for β ratios from 0.2 to 0.8. The results may be reliably extrapolated to higher Reynolds numbers. Presentation of losses as a percentage of meter pressure differential shows that the flow can be identified into fully laminar regime, critical Reynolds number regime, relaminarization regime, and turbulent flow regime. An integrated picture of variation of parameters such as discharge coefficient, loss coefficient, settling length, pressure recovery length, and center line velocity confirms this classification.


Author(s):  
Francine Battaglia ◽  
George Papadopoulos

The effect of three-dimensionality on low Reynolds number flows past a symmetric sudden expansion in a channel was investigated. The geometric expansion ratio of in the current study was 2:1 and the aspect ratio was 6:1. Both experimental velocity measurements and two- and three-dimensional simulations for the flow along the centerplane of the rectangular duct are presented for Reynolds numbers in the range of 150 to 600. Comparison of the two-dimensional simulations with the experiments revealed that the simulations fail to capture completely the total expansion effect on the flow, which couples both geometric and hydrodynamic effects. To properly do so requires the definition of an effective expansion ratio, which is the ratio of the downstream and upstream hydraulic diameters and is therefore a function of both the expansion and aspect ratios. When the two-dimensional geometry was consistent with the effective expansion ratio, the new results agreed well with the three-dimensional simulations and the experiments. Furthermore, in the range of Reynolds numbers investigated, the laminar flow through the expansion underwent a symmetry-breaking bifurcation. The critical Reynolds number evaluated from the experiments and the simulations was compared to other values reported in the literature. Overall, side-wall proximity was found to enhance flow stability, helping to sustain laminar flow symmetry to higher Reynolds numbers in comparison to nominally two-dimensional double-expansion geometries. Lastly, and most importantly, when the logarithm of the critical Reynolds number from all these studies was plotted against the reciprocal of the effective expansion ratio, a linear trend emerged that uniquely captured the bifurcation dynamics of all symmetric double-sided planar expansions.


1996 ◽  
Vol 322 ◽  
pp. 215-241 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dwight Barkley ◽  
Ronald D. Henderson

Results are reported from a highly accurate, global numerical stability analysis of the periodic wake of a circular cylinder for Reynolds numbers between 140 and 300. The analysis shows that the two-dimensional wake becomes (absolutely) linearly unstable to three-dimensional perturbations at a critical Reynolds number of 188.5±1.0. The critical spanwise wavelength is 3.96 ± 0.02 diameters and the critical Floquet mode corresponds to a ‘Mode A’ instability. At Reynolds number 259 the two-dimensional wake becomes linearly unstable to a second branch of modes with wavelength 0.822 diameters at onset. Stability spectra and corresponding neutral stability curves are presented for Reynolds numbers up to 300.


2002 ◽  
Vol 124 (2) ◽  
pp. 444-451 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. P. Chiang ◽  
Tony W. H. Sheu

Computational investigations have been performed into the behavior of an incompressible fluid flow in the vicinity of a plane symmetric channel contraction. Our aim is to determine the critical Reynolds number, above which the flow becomes asymmetric with respect to the channel geometry using the bifurcation diagram. Three channels, which are characterized by the contraction ratio, are studied and the critical Reynolds numbers are determined as 3075, 1355, and 1100 for channels with contraction ratios of 2, 4, and 8, respectively. The cause and mechanism explaining the transition from symmetric to asymmetric states in the symmetric contraction channel are also provided.


2004 ◽  
Vol 126 (1) ◽  
pp. 139-143 ◽  
Author(s):  
Agne`s Montillet

The variation of the pressure drop measured as a function of the fluid velocity through a packed bed of spheres is presented and discussed in the range of particle Reynolds number 30–1500. Based on previous studies, the observed limit of validity of the so-called Forchheimer law may be attributed to the concomitant effects of the finite character of the tested bed and of the transition of flow regime which is marking the beginning of the fully developed turbulent flow regime. The limit of validity of the Forchheimer-type law was formerly noticed by several authors.


2005 ◽  
Vol 128 (4) ◽  
pp. 671-679 ◽  
Author(s):  
Francine Battaglia ◽  
George Papadopoulos

The effect of three dimensionality on low Reynolds number flows past a symmetric sudden expansion in a channel was investigated. The geometric expansion ratio in the current study was 2:1 and the aspect ratio was 6:1. Both experimental velocity measurements and two- and three-dimensional simulations for the flow along the centerplane of the rectangular duct are presented for Reynolds numbers in the range of 150 to 600. Comparison of the two-dimensional simulations with the experiments revealed that the simulations failed to capture completely the total expansion effect on the flow, which is influenced by both geometric and hydrodynamic effects. To properly do so requires the definition of an effective expansion ratio, which is the ratio of the downstream and upstream hydraulic diameters and is therefore a function of both the expansion and aspect ratios. When two-dimensional simulations were performed using the effective expansion ratio, the new results agreed well with the three-dimensional simulations and the experiments. Furthermore, in the range of Reynolds numbers investigated, the laminar flow through the expansion underwent a symmetry-breaking bifurcation. The critical Reynolds number evaluated from the experiments and the simulations were compared to other values reported in the literature. Overall, side-wall proximity was found to enhance flow stability, thus sustaining laminar flow symmetry to higher Reynolds numbers. Last, and most important, when the logarithm of the critical Reynolds number was plotted against the reciprocal of the effective expansion ratio, a linear trend emerged that uniquely captured the bifurcation dynamics of all symmetric double-sided planar expansions.


2019 ◽  
Vol 30 (7) ◽  
pp. 3827-3842
Author(s):  
Samer Ali ◽  
Zein Alabidin Shami ◽  
Ali Badran ◽  
Charbel Habchi

Purpose In this paper, self-sustained second mode oscillations of flexible vortex generator (FVG) are produced to enhance the heat transfer in two-dimensional laminar flow regime. The purpose of this study is to determine the critical Reynolds number at which FVG becomes more efficient than rigid vortex generators (RVGs). Design/methodology/approach Ten cases were studied with different Reynolds numbers varying from 200 to 2,000. The Nusselt number and friction coefficients of the FVG cases are compared to those of RVG and empty channel at the same Reynolds numbers. Findings For Reynolds numbers higher than 800, the FVG oscillates in the second mode causing a significant increase in the velocity gradients generating unsteady coherent flow structures. The highest performance was obtained at the maximum Reynolds number for which the global Nusselt number is improved by 35.3 and 41.4 per cent with respect to empty channel and rigid configuration, respectively. Moreover, the thermal enhancement factor corresponding to FVG is 72 per cent higher than that of RVG. Practical implications The results obtained here can help in the design of novel multifunctional heat exchangers/reactors by using flexible tabs and inserts instead of rigid ones. Originality/value The originality of this paper is the use of second mode oscillations of FVG to enhance heat transfer in laminar flow regime.


1999 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hidesada Kanda

Abstract A conceptual model was constructed for the problem of determining in circular pipes the conditions under which the transition from laminar to turbulent flow occurs, so that it becomes possible to calculate the minimum critical Reynolds number. Up until now this problem has been investigated by stability theory with disturbances at the pipe inlet. However, the minimum critical Reynolds number has not yet been obtained theoretically. Hence, the author took up the problem directly from many previous experimental investigations and found that (i) plots of the transition length versus the Reynolds number show that the transition occurs in the entrance region under the condition of a natural disturbance, and (ii) plots of the critical Reynolds number versus the ratio of bellmouth diameter to the pipe diamter show that with larger shapes of bellmouths, laminar flow will persist to higher Reynolds numbers. The problem is thus defined clearly as: Under the condition of an ordinary disturbance, the transition from laminar to turbulent flow occurs in the entrance region of a straight circular pipe, then the Reynolds number takes a minimum value of about 2000.


2000 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephen E. Turner ◽  
Hongwei Sun ◽  
Mohammad Faghri ◽  
Otto J. Gregory

Abstract This paper presents an experimental investigation on nitrogen and helium flow through microchannels etched in silicon with hydraulic diameters between 10 and 40 microns, and Reynolds numbers ranging from 0.3 to 600. The objectives of this research are (1) to fabricate microchannels with uniform surface roughness and local pressure measurement; (2) to determine the friction factor within the locally fully developed region of the microchannel; and (3) to evaluate the effect of surface roughness on momentum transfer by comparison with smooth microchannels. The friction factor results are presented as the product of friction factor and Reynolds number plotted against Reynolds number. The following conclusions have been reached in the present investigation: (1) microchannels with uniform corrugated surfaces can be fabricated using standard photolithographic processes; and (2) surface features with low aspect ratios of height to width have little effect on the friction factor for laminar flow in microchannels.


2015 ◽  
Vol 813-814 ◽  
pp. 652-657
Author(s):  
Seranthian Ramanathan ◽  
M.R. Thansekhar ◽  
P. Rajesh Kanna ◽  
S. Shankara Narayanan

A 3-Dimensional fluid flow over the sudden expansion region of a horizontal duct for various Reynolds numbers have been studied by using the CFD Software package ANSYS Workbench Fluent v 13.0. The expansion ratio and aspect ratio for the sudden expansion are taken as 2.5 and 4 respectively. This work deals with the finding of critical Reynolds number for a fluid and also the length of re-attachments on stepped walls at various Reynolds numbers for the same fluid. The simulation is carried out in sudden expansion for Reynolds number ranging from 200 to 4000. The variations of local Nusselt number along the stepped walls of the sudden expansion are presented with the heat flux of 35 W/m2 on the stepped walls. Also, the plots of pressure coefficient (Cp) along the stepped walls for different Reynolds numbers are presented in this work.


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